System and method for an interactive broadband system-on-chip with a reconfigurable interface

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus are disclosed, in an interactive broadband set-top box receiving broadband signals from a headend, to facilitate communications with an installed card within the set-top box using a single IC chip that processes the broadband signals. The single IC chip is configured to a PCMCIA PC-card mode such that PC card signals are multiplexed to certain I/O pins of the single IC chip. In the PCMCIA PC-card mode, the single IC chip attempts to detect the presence of and identify an installed card in the set-top box. If an installed card is present and is identified as a POD module, then the single IC chip is reconfigured from the PCMCIA PC-card mode to a POD mode such that POD-compatible signals are multiplexed to certain existing I/O pins of the single IC chip when operating in the POD mode.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is related to application Ser. No. 09/969,212 filed Oct. 2, 2001, titled “SINGLE CHIP SET-TOP BOX SYSTEM”, the complete subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to integrated circuits and systems, and more particularly to an interactive broadband set-top box on a single integrated circuit (IC) chip.

In general, a set-top box interfaces with RF devices to receive and process audio, video, data, and/or graphics information for display on a display device such as a high definition television, standard definition television, or a computer monitor. The video and graphics signals transmitted to the display device by the set-top box may comprise, for example, RGB, NTSC, PAL, SECAM, ATSC, S-video, and DVI-compatible signals as well as any other standard or non-standard video and/or graphics signals.

The audio, video, data, and/or graphics information may originate, for example, at a cable headend. A headend is the mainframe of a cable television system where inputs from satellites, local signals, and other sources are combined, balanced, and amplified for subsequent distribution to customers on a single cable. The headend includes various RF devices including antennas, preamplifiers, frequency converters, demodulators, modulators, processors, and other related devices. However, as used herein from this point forward, the term “headend” is used generally to simply indicate a source of audio, video, data, and/or graphics information.

A set-top box system may receive audio, video, data, and/or graphics information using any combination of available communication media such as, for example, cable, landline (eg. PSTN, ISDN, DSL), Internet, satellite links, free space, wireless links, and the like. The set-top box system may interface to a memory device to store data during audio, video, data, and/or graphics processing.

Conventional set-top boxes may include various discrete and separate elements. For example, a typical set-top box may include a broadband receiver, an MPEG decoder, a video encoder, an upstream RF transmitter, and a CPU all implemented on separate integrated circuit (IC) chips or systems. Also, a set-top box may include peripheral interfaces including PCMCIA-compatible interfaces and a POD interface implemented on separate chips or systems.

Peripheral interfaces may include various types of installed PC cards that are communicated to/from using a PCMCIA (Personal Computer Memory Card International Association) standard communication protocol. The purpose of the PCMCIA protocol is to support the interoperability of PC cards in computers, automobiles, cable TV, digital cameras, and set-top box systems. The PCMCIA protocol defines the electrical interface, associated software, socket design, and physical size of the cards and, as an example, may be in compliance with PC Card Standard 8.0 Release, April 2001 which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. Some examples of PC cards include memory cards, modems, sound cards, floppy disk controllers, hard drives, CD ROM and SCSI controllers, GPS cards, data acquisition and LAN cards, pagers, radios, wireless network cards, etc.

Also, peripheral interfaces may include a point-of-deployment (POD) interface. A POD module is a programmable card that may be installed in a set-top box system and is communicated to/from using a POD communication protocol through the POD interface. The functions of the POD module are to receive, de-encrypt, and transmit parallel MPEG transport streams and receive, process, and transmit out-of-band (OOB) signals.

A cable provider may download data to the POD module using the OOB channels to, for example, enable pay-per-view channels requested by a user. The POD module may transmit upstream signals through the POD interface using the OOB channels to provide requests and status information to the cable provider, for example, such that a user's account may be updated. As an example, the POD protocol may be in compliance with OpenCable™ Host-POD Interface Specification IS-POD-131-INT07-010803, dated Aug. 3, 2001 which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional and traditional approaches will become apparent to one of skill in the art, through comparison of such systems with embodiments of the present invention as set forth in the remainder of the present application with reference to the drawings.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a method and apparatus, in an interactive broadband set-top box receiving broadband signals from, for example, a headend, to facilitate communications with an installed card within the set-top box using a single IC chip that processes the broadband signals.

A method of the present invention provides for configuring a single IC chip to a PCMCIA PC-card mode such that certain existing I/O pins of the single IC chip carry PC card signals when operating in the PCMCIA PC-card mode. The single IC chip may detect the presence of an installed card interfacing to the single IC chip and may identify the installed card as a PC card or a POD module. The single IC chip may be reconfigured from the PCMCIA PC-card mode to a POD mode, if the installed card is identified as a POD module, such that POD-compatible signals are multiplexed to certain existing I/O pins of the single IC chip when operating in the POD mode.

Apparatus of the present invention provides, within a single IC chip, a broadband digital signal processing module (BDSPM) to process broadband signals. The apparatus also provides, within the single IC chip, a PC-card/POD interface module (PPIM) interfacing to the BDSPM. The PPIM is capable of being configured to operate in a PCMCIA PC-card mode or a POD mode, along with the BDSPM, in order to communicate with an installed card in an interactive broadband set-top box by multiplexing signals onto shared I/O pins of the single IC chip.

Certain embodiments of the present invention afford an approach for a single IC chip to multiplex certain I/O pins between PC card signals and POD-compatible signals in order to communicate with a PCMCIA module or a POD module installed in an interactive broadband set-top box.

These and other advantages and novel features of the present invention, as well as details of an illustrated embodiment thereof, will be more fully understood from the following description and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a single IC chip apparatus processing broadband signals from a headend and interfacing to a POD module in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a method to reconfigure the single IC chip apparatus in FIG. 1 from a PCMCIA PC-card mode to a POD mode in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a table illustrating how to configure a control register in the single IC chip apparatus of FIG. 1 in order to switch between a PCMCIA PC-card configuration and a POD configuration in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a table illustrating the various POD or PC-card signals that may be multiplexed onto certain I/O pins of the single IC chip apparatus of FIG. 1 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram of an alternative embodiment of a single IC chip apparatus processing broadband signals from a headend and interfacing to a POD module in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Integrating the functionality of various set-top box system elements on a single IC chip reduces fabrication time, fabrication cost, and maintenance cost. Application Ser. No. 09/969,21 2 filed Oct. 2, 2001, titled “SINGLE CHIP SET-TOP BOX SYSTEM” describes the integration of many of the set-top box functional elements into a single IC chip.

It is desirable, however, to have a single set-top box chip that is able to interface directly to an installed PC card or an installed POD-compatible module simply by changing a programmable configuration or mode of the single IC chip.

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a single IC chip 5 in a set-top box and processing broadband signals from a headend 110 and interfacing to a POD module 150 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The single IC chip 5 may also interface to certain PC cards as well.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the single IC chip 5 comprises two main sections including a Broadband Digital Signal Processing module (BDSPM) 100 and a PC-card/POD Interface Module (PPIM). The BDSPM 100 receives broadband audio, video, data, and/or graphics information from a headend 110, processes the information, interfaces to PPIM 200 within the single IC chip 5, outputs upstream RF signals to the headend 110, and outputs other signals for display to, for example, a television 120. The PPIM 200 receives/transmits signals from/to the BDSPM 100 and multiplexes the appropriate signals to I/O pins of the single IC chip 5 such that the single IC chip 5 may interface to a PC card or a POD module installed in the set-top box.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the BDSPM 100 comprises an MPEG decoder/video encoder 10, a transport processor 20, an in-band receiver 30, and out-of-band receiver 40, an upstream RF module 50, and a CPU 60.

During operation of the single IC chip 5 in a set-top box, broadband signals are received by the BDSPM 100 in the form of in-band signals and out-of-band signals. The in-band signals are received by in-band receiver 30 which generates a digital serial MPEG transport stream from the received in-band signals. In an embodiment of the present invention, in-band receiver 30 comprises a QAM receiver. The out-of-band signals are received by OOB receiver 40 which generates digital OOB signals. In an embodiment of the present invention, the OOB receiver 40 comprises a QPSK receiver.

The CPU 60 controls the functionality of the single IC chip 5 by generating various control signals within the chip. Digital upstream signals, generated by a POD module 150 external to the single IC chip 5, may be converted to upstream RF signals by upstream RF module 50 and transmitted to the headend 110. Upstream RF module 50 may comprise a QPSK/16-QAM upstream transmitter in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the transport processor 20 receives a serial MPEG transport stream from the PPIM 200. The serial MPEG transport stream may include one or more in-band streams (high data rate streams such as audio or video data). The transport processor 20 may perform one or more of, but not limited to, signal parsing, PID filtering, encrypting, de-encrypting, and packet buffering of the received serial MPEG transport stream. In one embodiment of the present invention, the transport processor 20 transmits a de-encrypted, parsed serial MPEG transport stream to MPEG Decoder/Video Encoder 10 for audio and video decoding (i.e. decompression).

MPEG Decoder/Video Encoder 10 performs dual functions. The MPEG decoder section receives compressed signals from a parsed serial MPEG transport stream and performs signal decompression. The signal decompression operation may, in an embodiment of the present invention, decode a compressed video signal of the parsed serial MPEG transport stream into a CCIR-656 standard digital signal. In other embodiments, the MPEG decoder may format the compressed signals into other types of decompressed signal formats.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the video encoder section of the MPEG Decoder/Video Encoder 10 receives a video signal (e.g. a CCIR-656 stream) as a parsed serial MPEG transport stream and encodes the received video signal by converting it to, for example, a NTSC or PAL video signal for display.

FIG. 1 shows the BDSPM 100 and PPIM 200 of the single IC chip 5 configured in the POD mode as opposed to the PCMCIA PC-card mode. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the single IC chip 5 may be configured to either the POD mode or the PCMCIA PC-card mode.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the BDSPM 100 of the single IC chip 5 processes broadband signals received from the headend as previously described. Referring to FIG. 2, in step 320 of method 300, the BDSPM 100 and PPIM 200 of the single IC chip 5 are configured to the PCMCIA PC-card mode by CPU 60 by configuring a control register in the BDSPM 100, as shown in FIG. 3, for the PCMCIA PC-card mode.

While in the PCMCIA PC-card mode, the CPU 60 detects the presence of an installed card 150 (such as a POD module or a PC card) in step 330. If the CPU 60 detects the presence of an installed card 150, then the CPU 60 reads an identification register in installed card 150 and identifies the installed card as a particular PC card or a POD module in step 340.

In step 350, if the installed card 150 is a POD module, then the CPU reconfigures the BDSPM 100 and PPIM 200 in single IC chip 5 to the POD mode by configuring a control register in the BDSPM 100, as shown in FIG. 3, for the POD mode (step 360 in FIG. 2). In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, when configured to the POD mode, the single IC chip 5 will operate in the POD mode in compliance with OpenCable™ Host-POD Interface Specification IS-POD-131-INT07-010803, dated Aug. 3, 2001 (step 370 in FIG. 2). Otherwise, the single IC chip 5 remains in the PCMCIA PC-card mode and operates in compliance with PC Card Standard 8.0 Release, April 2001 (step 380 in FIG. 2) in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Other embodiments complying with other standards and/or specifications are possible as well.

FIG. 4 is a table illustrating the various POD or PC card signals that may be multiplexed onto certain I/O pins of the single IC chip 5 of FIG. 1 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The signals and pins that are boxed are multiplexed between PC card signals and POD signals depending on the mode of operation (PCMCIA PC-card or POD). The direction of the signals (input, output or both) with respect to the single IC chip 5 is also shown in FIG. 4.

For example, in the POD mode, the TX_CLK pin carries a clock signal from the single IC chip 5 to the POD module 150 and the TX_I, TX_Q, and TX_ENABb pins carry data from the POD module 5 to the single IC chip 5. In the PCMCIA PC-card mode, the same pins carry address information, A[4] to A[7], from the single IC chip 5 to a PC card.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the PPIM 200 comprises an MPEG parallel-to-serial converter/multiplexer (MPSCM) 70, an MPEG serial-to-parallel converter/multiplexer (MSPCM) 80, and a CPU/OOB/Upstream muxed interface (COUMI) 90 which support the POD mode of the single IC chip 5.

While in the POD mode, the CPU 60 in the BDSPM 100 communicates through the PPIM 200 to a CPU in the POD module 150 to coordinate activities and functions between the single IC chip 5 and the external POD module 150.

In an embodiment of the present invention, an encrypted serial MPEG transport stream from in-band receiver 30 is input to MSPCM 80 in PPIM 200. MSPCM 80 converts the serial MPEG transport stream to parallel MPEG transport signals and multiplexes the parallel MPEG transport signals to POD module 150. POD module 150 de-encrypts the parallel MPEG transport signals and sends the de-encrypted parallel MPEG transport signals to MPSCM 70 in PPIM 200.

MPSCM 70 multiplexes the de-encrypted parallel MPEG transport signals from the POD module 150 and converts the de-encrypted parallel MPEG transport signals to a de-encrypted serial MPEG transport stream and sends the de-encrypted serial MPEG transport stream to transport processor 20 in BDSPM 100. Transport processor 20 generates a parsed serial MPEG transport stream from the de-encrypted serial MPEG transport stream and sends the parsed stream to MPEG Decoder/Video Encoder 10 for audio and/or video decoding (i.e. decompression) and/or video encoding.

In an embodiment of the present invention, conditional access may be provided using the OOB channels. Digital OOB signals from OOB receiver 40 are transmitted to COUMI 90 and multiplexed to POD module 150. The OOB signals may contain programming information from the headend. For example, the headend may download a key or code to the POD through the single IC chip 5 to enable de-encryption of a particular cable channel such as a pay-per-view channel.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the POD module 150 may also send digital upstream signals to single IC chip 5 that are multiplexed through COUMI 90 to upstream RF module 50. Upstream RF module 50 converts the digital upstream signals to upstream RF signals that are transmitted to the headend 110. For example, the upstream signals may contain user request information, such as requesting that an additional channel (e.g. a pay-per-view channel) be de-encrypted by POD module 150.

FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram of an alternative embodiment of a single IC chip 5 processing broadband signals from a headend 110 and interfacing to a POD module 150 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 5, two in-band receivers 31 and 32 are shown, each generating a serial MPEG transport stream that are sent to PPIM 200. Also, MPEG Transport Multiplexer (MTM) 33 combines the two streams and sends the resultant combined stream to PPIM 200. MSPCM 80 selects one of the three transport streams for subsequent MPEG serial-to-parallel conversion and multiplexing to the POD module 200.

In other embodiments of the present invention, the single IC chip 5 may generate more than two serial MPEG transport streams and multiplex various combinations of them to POD module 150.

As an alternative embodiment, the single IC chip 5 may support the multiplexing of other functional signals onto the existing shared pins of single IC chip 5 in addition to PC card signals and POD signals. In other words, other functional modes may also be supported by sharing of pins.

As a further alternative embodiment, the single IC chip 5 may support a PCMCIA PC-card mode and a POD mode by having dedicated pins for each mode. No multiplexing or sharing of pins is performed to accommodate the two modes in the single IC chip S.

The various elements of the single IC chip 5 may be combined or separated according to various embodiments of the present invention. For example, transport processor 20 may be combined with MPEG Decoder/Video Encoder 10 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

In summary, certain embodiments of the present invention afford an approach to configure a single IC chip, processing broadband signals in a set-top box, to a PCMCIA PC-card mode or a POD mode and to multiplex PC card signals or POD-compatible signals within the single IC chip to certain pins of the single IC chip in order to interface with a PC card in the PCMCIA PC-card mode or a POD module in the POD mode.

While the invention has been described with reference to certain embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from its scope. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims. 

1. In an interactive broadband set-top box receiving broadband signals from a headend, a method to facilitate communications with an installed card within said set-top box using a single IC chip processing said broadband signals, said method comprising: configuring said single IC chip to a PCMCIA PC-card mode such that said single IC chip multiplexes PC card signals to certain I/O pins of said single IC chip when operating in said PCMCIA PC-card mode; detecting the presence of said installed card interfacing to said single IC chip; identifying said installed card as a PC card or a POD module; and reconfiguring said single IC chip from said PCMCIA PC-card mode to a POD mode, if said installed card is identified as said POD module, such that said single IC chip muliplexes POD-compatible signals to at least one of said certain I/O pins or other existing pins of said single IC chip when operating in said POD mode.
 2. The method of claim 1 further comprising applying appropriate power to said installed card based on, at least in part, said identifying.
 3. The method of claim 1 further comprising operating said single IC chip in said POD mode with said POD module after said single IC chip is reconfigured to said POD mode.
 4. The method of claim 1 further comprising operating said single IC chip in said PCMCIA PC-card mode with said PC card if said installed card is identified as said PCMCIA PC card.
 5. The method of claim 1 wherein said detecting is performed by said single IC chip.
 6. The method of claim 1 wherein said identifying is performed by said single IC chip.
 7. The method of claim 2 wherein said applying is commanded, at least in part, by said single IC chip.
 8. The method of claim 1 wherein said configuring and said reconfiguring each comprise changing a communication protocol of said single IC chip and multiplexing between said PC card signals and said POD-compatible signals within said single IC chip.
 9. The method of claim 1 wherein said POD-compatible signals comprise parallel MPEG transport signals generated by said single IC chip from said broadband signals processed by said single IC chip and wherein said parallel MPEG transport signals are multiplexed to said POD module by said single IC chip.
 10. The method of claim 1 wherein said POD-compatible signals comprise de-encrypted parallel MPEG transport signals generated by said POD module and received by said single IC chip.
 11. The method of claim 1 wherein said POD-compatible signals comprise digital out-of-band (OOB) signals generated by said single IC chip from said broadband signals processed by said single IC chip and wherein said digital OOB signals are multiplexed to said POD module by said single IC chip.
 12. The method of claim 1 wherein said POD-compatible signals comprise CPU signals generated by a first CPU within said single IC chip and a second CPU within said POD module.
 13. The method of claim 1 wherein said POD-compatible signals comprise digital upstream signals generated by said POD module and wherein said digital upstream signals are received and processed by said single IC chip to generate upstream RF signals and wherein said upstream RF signals are subsequently sent to said headend.
 14. The method of claim 1 further comprising: generating multiple serial MPEG transport streams within said single IC chip from said broadband signals; combining at least two of said multiple serial MPEG transport streams within said single IC chip to form at least one muxed transport stream; converting at least one of said multiple serial MPEG transport streams or said at least one muxed transport stream to parallel MPEG transport signals within said single IC chip when said single IC chip is in said POD mode; and multiplexing said parallel MPEG transport signals to said POD module.
 15. The method of claim 1 further comprising: generating a serial MPEG transport stream within said single IC chip from de-encrypted parallel MPEG signals from said POD module; and decoding said serial MPEG transport stream within said single IC chip by decompressing audio and/or video signal components of said serial MPEG transport stream.
 16. The method of claim 1 further comprising: generating a serial MPEG transport stream within said single IC chip from de-encrypted parallel MPEG signals from said POD module; video encoding a video signal component of said serial MPEG transport stream to generate an encoded video signal; and sending said encoded video signal to a device for further processing and/or display.
 17. In an interactive broadband set-top box receiving broadband signals from a headend, a method to facilitate communications with an installed card within said set-top box using a single IC chip processing said broadband signals, said method comprising: configuring said single IC chip to a PCMCIA PC-card mode; detecting the presence of said installed card interfacing to said single IC chip; identifying said installed card as a PC card or a POD module; and reconfiguring said single IC chip from said PCMCIA PC-card mode to a POD mode, if said installed card is identified as said POD module. 18-31. (canceled) 